So. Those new RWBY episodes...hm. Never actually thought that the CRWBY would actually go down that path...but I'll ride along, because it's getting a lot more interesting! Also, the rule with answering reviews – guest and accounted reviews – will be posted every three chapters, unless the review is...interesting enough...to warrant an immediate response. Such reviews will be posted here, so there won't be any curious heads hunting for it in the reviews section.
And, for all of your future concerns with how my numbering of chapters work, the system of #-## for chapters is titled as Arc-Chapter, and the length of each chapter varies between arcs. For the first arc, however, I made an estimate of 12 chapters for this one, somewhat like a development phase for Johnathan, and his interactions between the teams, staff, select villains, Steeldick – whoops, Ironwood – and other characters. After that, though, I don't know how many chapters will be in each arc.
Enough of this; the rest of your scheduled A/N will be at the bottom of this chapter.
'I'll only say this once; I might've done fucked up...' Johnathan thought as he saw the massive crater that replaced most of the Emerald Forest nearby Beacon Academy. Ozpin burning holes through his back with his eyes wasn't helping the confusion he was experiencing right now.
"So, mind explaining to me how you caused that?" the headmaster asked. His demeanor was calm, but his tone said 'Give me an answer I don't like, and I'll string you up faster than you can say Redigit.'
"...Well, to be honest..." the Champion started, and looked over at the iced head on the counter. "I believe that the head over there held around a good...60% of a reason that caused my blackout. I can't quite recall what happened down there, but judging the size of the crater, and your expression, something huge went boom."
"That's an understatement; you took out explosives, set them all over the forest, and detonated them all when you returned to Professor Goodwitch and myself – that head in tow – and gave us the amulet before you fell flat on your face." Ozpin paused. "At least that was spared."
"Ok, that does seem like something I would do, but even if that was the case, I'm not dumb enough to try something like that," John stated. "I respect Nature, and I use its resources for my purposes, and begin the cycle once more. I'm not – "
"Does the phrase, 'Johnny is a broken pile of madness in his head,' mean anything to you?" Ozpin interrupted, causing the Champion to freeze in his tracks.
"...yeah." He stared at his armor, his breathing heavy. There was one other time that someone said that to him; the Dryad. She was the only one that could have seen the turmoil going on in his head – mainly because of her age. Five hundred years of living does give you a few perks, after all – and had to explain it to a few others, namely the Nurse, Tinkerer, Demolitions, and Gun Trader. Unfortunately for her, the Champion heard the rephrasing she used, and that stuck. "Johnny is a broken pile of madness in his head." After fifty invasions by other Champions, it stuck.
"If I'm free to ask..." John nodded. "...what does it mean to you?" Ozpin asked, seemingly worried by his reaction to the statement.
"It's..." he hesitated. "It's a...condition. I've faced numerous threats...many, threats...deeming my home...a place...for their next...conquest," the Champion began, his speech returning to his calculated, baritone tones he became used to. "They sometimes...had equipment, better...than my own...when...I first...began." His eyes turned to Ozpin, unbearable pain evident in his irises. "The first time I...killed...one of them...I...I just...broke down. I...I didn't know...what I did. Originally...the monsters I faced...were actual monsters. There was no...reasoning with them, so...there wasn't any pain...for me. Mentally, that is.
"I did get...harmed, by their...assault. I survived, and...pushed forward. Some monsters, though...were friendly, and...didn't fight. I think...that was what...I enjoyed the most. Meeting...monsters, that acted...like people. Kind, friendly, and...bearable. But, other Champions...coming to my world...trying to...take it over? I...I couldn't think. Couldn't...breathe. I...I fought back, and...I killed them all." His face became blank. "I killed them...but the first one's face...it was one of...shock and...surprise...anger...and fear...the poor kid...all they wanted...was a place...of their own. But...the warning the Guide...had given...I panicked, and..." John couldn't continue.
Ozpin stood there, listening carefully. It was known to a select few that he made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child could have made in their lifetime. Being the Wizard, it made sense. But judging from the fact that the Champion told him more about his world, many mistakes he did make seemed...insignificant. Inwardly, Ozpin snorted in humor; the Champion met a Wizard as well, back before his world shattered. He put it on a back-burner to tell him this revelation at another date.
As much as he hated the infirmary's chairs, Ozpin sat down in one of them, across from Johnathan. "You don't have to say any more, Mr. Osborne," the headmaster reassured. "What you did back then, it can't be changed, but what you can do now is, as you stated earlier, keep moving forward.* Don't let your mistakes be the things that define you; instead, have them define the path to a better definition of who you are."
The Champion didn't respond verbally; instead opting to nod to the statement made.
"That being said, I believe that your end of the deal is now upheld, thanks to your...unorthodox delivery...and quick execution. As such," he paused, and pulled out a folder from within his jacket. "I give you your papers, with help from a friend of mine. You're officially a citizen of Vale, and a Huntsman to boot." John took a moment to observe the documents; 29 years old, brown eyes, 6'9", 251 lbs., O+, and a few other miscellaneous documents. Putting those aside, he looked over his Hunter's ID. "You've been marked as a double S-class Hunter, because of your skills, abilities, and tactical prowess. My friend has agreed to this without question, surprisingly enough, after viewing you in action for himself," Ozpin continued. "He has, however, asked for one thing."
"And that is?" John pondered.
"A meeting. Between you and him. I know of your distrust in others upon meeting them for the first time, and all things considering, it's not misplaced." Ozpin said, getting a fierce glare from the Champion. "However, all things considering, it would be rude to not at least thank the man who helped you become someone that would check out OK in this world, should anyone investigate."
The Champion wasn't one for remaining to a select tactic when it clearly wouldn't work for all future encounters. If anything, it would simply cause more problems than solutions. If a tactic did work, and worked almost every time when testing it, then it wouldn't be a problem. There was a time in which he visited – not invaded – a world of another Champion, who wanted to test out a tactic that involved shooting cannons at a giant plant. Only difference is, they shot explosive bunnies.
It was ridiculous enough that it actually worked the first time it was used. However, after the first time, it was deemed unreliable, and was scrapped. Plans like these were called FBED, or Fluffy Bunnies of Explosive Doom. Right now, running away was a FBED waiting to happen.
"Alright...when is your friend arriving?" John asked.
Let it be known that the Champion wasn't a fan of armies.
Sure, there is a certain strength in numbers, and battles against the enemy were a lot easier, should the opponent be quite the challenge alone.
However, given the fact that the Champion faced them all, ranging from the annoyances that is the goblin army, to the panic that is the Martian army, the jolly jogs of fear of the Frost Moon's army, to the terror of the Eclipse itself, this fact became pretty clear to Ozpin and Glynda.
During the time in-between the arrival of General James Ironwood and his fleet to Beacon Academy, John was busy rebuilding the scarred Emerald Forest that he caused – unintentionally, he keeps telling the headmistress, to no avail. Because his memory was eidetic, it took a few days to reconstruct the floor, and a whole week for the trees to regrow to their former glory. Because of the explosions, most of the Grimm that remained were hiding away, clearly cautious of the armored figure rebuilding the land. When questioned by the students, Ozpin said that there was a small error in deployment packages, and caused the massive crater in the forest; this dropped the concern, as many pilots did make coordinate errors when delivering payloads to certain locations.
The people that knew, however, were now a little more terrified of the Champion, as they have no idea on what else it was capable of.** With the exceptions being Ozpin and Glynda, of course.
A ding signaled the arrival of the general. Time to face the music, John thought.
First appearances are one of the few times in which you get to assess a new piece of the intricate game set in place; the General of the Atlesian Armed Forces, James Ironwood was one that has seen his fair share of combat from the first glance. Graying hair, a small metal strip over his right eyebrow on his otherwise sharpened face, a white overcoat over his gray undercoat, black sweater, and red tie. A clean outfit, reminding him of Ozpin's own, with the only anomaly being a white glove over his right hand. His wire-cutters told him the rest of the story; his right arm was cybernetic.
He didn't pay attention to the small banter between the trio, as from listening to the first few words, it seemed like a common thing for them. James turned his head towards the Champion, who was wearing his armor once more, and took a moment to reel back in surprise.
"I...assume that you are this Johnathan Osborne character I've heard about from Ozpin?" he asked, unsure and nervous.
"That I am." His statement brought some ease to the General. "And you must be the...friend...Ozpin told me about: General James Ironwood, I presume?"
"That's correct; it's a pleasure to meet someone that is far different from the usual suspects Ozpin asks me to cover up," James began. Glynda's eyes narrowed in annoyance, while Ozpin didn't respond. "When I first heard of your talents, I thought it was a mere coincidental incident in which control over the situation was in your favor-" the Champion's stance changed slightly; clearly offended by the statement. "-but considering the situation you found yourself in, that was clearly not the case: You've fought in numerous battles before, correct?"
John had to consider his words very carefully. As much of a friend he is to Ozpin, the Champion wasn't sure on how far his trust lead, and if he would report anything to his soldiers. "I...have, General. My survival...depended on battle."
"Say no more; I understand," James said, raising his hand to stop the Champion before he could continue. 'That was...easier than expected…' he pondered. "Until Qrow returns, this won't be something to press."
"Indeed; for now, we have an event to plan," Ozpin intervened. "Until then, it was good seeing you, James."
"You too, Ozpin." The general took his leave. When the sounds of the elevator reaching the floor below was heard, Ozpin spoke up.
"So, that was much more simpler than expected," he deadpanned.
"I honestly thought he would've pressed an interrogation; thanking every Pinky I have ever encountered that this wasn't the case," John said, releasing a breath he didn't know he held.
"I noticed that with each passing statement of yours, your world – alongside every other Terrarian world, for that matter – grows far more stranger than ours," the headmaster replied, adopting a contemplative look. "I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of, in all honesty."
"The feeling's mutual," the Champion snarked. "However, I guess I'm now approved as a full-time Huntsman?"
"Indeed you are," Ozpin stated, grabbing a small card off of his desk. Upon being handed the piece of plastic, the Champion realized that it was an ID card: His name, height, weight, age, and a few other things were listed. At the top of the card, 'Hunter's License' could be read; next to his portrait, 'A-Class Hunter,' in bold, was printed.
"The class you have is the highest we can safely obtain without raising any suspicion from either the Council or any...unsavory individuals," Ozpin explained. "In other cases, you would've started at a B-Class license; with the General's sway, however, you start at an A-Class, with the S-Class tests available within six months. However, you need Aura to be eligible, so...Glynda, if you wouldn't mind?"
The woman in question gave an eyeroll at the suggestion, and walked in front of the Champion. His helmet tilted slightly, indicating his confusion. "What the headmaster is saying is that you need your Aura unlocked to wipe away any further suspicion," she provided. "It may appear odd, but the end result will be beneficial."
Her hand went up, towards the Champion's chest, and placed it upon his sternum. At first, nothing; then, he felt it. An odd, warm sensation, began flowing through him; it felt similar to that of the Life/Manaforce Crystals he absorbed, only...different. He wasn't sure how, though.
He heard words, the voice being Glynda's, but it echoed with the voices of his former compatriots. They...enthralled him, bringing forth tranquility in such a way that he never felt before: "For it is in Passing that we Achieve...Immortality: Through this, we become a Paragon of Virtue and Glory...to Rise above all: Infinite in Distance...and Unbound by Death: I release your Soul, and by my Shoulder Protect thee."
The feeling began traveling through every inch of his body, and began releasing old connections he thought lost. It was nirvana, the power coursing through him. Until, everything exploded. His own soul pulsated with newfound energy, reinvigorated by the releasing of old locks he never knew were in place. Magical energy flared all around, dancing and gliding freely over his armor.
Johnathan never felt more alive up until this moment.
Soon, the energy died down, and he felt his feet on the ground. Looking down, he noticed that there was a small crater where he stood in. Raising his gaze, he saw the stunned looks directed towards him, and Glynda struggling to get back up. Across the room. Oddly enough, he never felt bashful during his lifetime; now, however, the Champion couldn't stop himself.
"That...wasn't normal...was it?" he asked.
Two nods. He just had to be the exceptional character of this world.
"...I'll pay for the damages..." the Champion relented.
'Overhead. Swing right. Sidestep, trip. Lean, bash under.'
A select few thoughts in an incredibly fast-paced battle against some robots.
After the Aura Unlock, the Champion wanted to test this newfound power's strength and endurance, considering that normal releases were much calmer than his explosive, violent one. At first, both Ozpin and Glynda didn't agree to his train of thought. However, considering his recovery time, they relented.
Now, both are regretting allowing the Champion to have control over the difficulty settings on the robots.
Not because it was a stupid idea on the Champion's part, but more so that they might not have enough robots for him to fight.
The arena being chock-full of robotic parts lying about explained the rest.
Back on Amirokal, the fastest he'd been in a single fight was on a water-energized flying Fishron mount in the cover of night against the Moon Lord, which clocked in around 78 mph. That's about the speed he was going right now against these drones.
But it wasn't just his speed amplified because of Aura; every aspect of himself was rebuilt, and strengthened by his energized soul. His swords felt lighter, and swung at dangerous speeds; throwing objects felt deadlier, as he decapitated three drones with a single Daybreaker spear; his slight accuracy errors with his guns vanished, and became quite minimal in long-ranged attacks.
His magic, though…
No words can describe the chaos he inflicted upon the drones with a single Nebula Arcanum shot. The astral orb's size increased tenfold, with the mana drain being halved: it was like his Aura solidified his magical powers within, and widened the channels.
The last robot was actually surrendering at this point, in which the simulation was terminated immediately afterward. The Champion took the opportunity to stretch out his limbs and neck; kinks he never knew existed popped, and each one made him groan in appreciation.
"I...believe you've got enough testing done..." Ozpin said, still struggling to see the results firsthand.
"I...suppose I did get carried away with the test..." John replied, observing the fruits of his carnage. "Are the visual recordings wiped on these androids?"
"They are."
"Good, I believe I'll head up, then." A flash of pink light occurred, and the Champion was right next to Ozpin. His helmet scanned the room momentarily; "Where did Professor Goodwitch go, exactly?"
"I believe she said, 'Beacon needs heavier drinks than this garbage,' and left in the middle of your...experiment," the headmaster supplied. "At this moment, I'm starting to agree with her."
"Well, lucky for you, and everyone else on this rock; if I was in your shoes, and still had my genetics, I couldn't drink if I tried," John lamented.
Ozpin raised a brow at this revelation. "And, pray tell, why's that?"
"Any type of alcohol I drink only makes me stronger and lowers my...toughness," he explained. "The worst part is, I can't get drunk, so anything outlandish can't be drowned out with booze."
The headmaster was silent for a few seconds. Then, a fearful look appeared. "...whatever you do, DON'T! Tell Qrow anything about that fact," he demanded, pointing at the Champion's faceplate. "He will...not take it lightly."
John's hands shot straight up in the air, next to his head. "My lips are sealed."
The Champion decided to change into an outfit with a little more...discretion in mind, when wandering the school grounds and, possibly, the city. A burgundy jacket over a white T-shirt, burgundy pants, and black shoes were mild in comparison to the natural armor he wore. To keep his identity more out of the picture, he wore a black bowler hat and sunglasses***. He called in this outfit when his armor would be out of place. Luckily, it matched the academy's uniform – which John didn't realize until after he put on the outfit – by some measure, so not many people payed him any mind.
However, during the lunch hour – not needing to eat or drink was a happy miracle, but he did so under habit and possible alienation prevention – someone's gaze fell onto him, and the way they traced every cell was...unnerving. It reminded him of how other Terrarians scanned him over; this was different, though. In what way, John wasn't certain. What he did know, though, was that those eyes belonged to someone dangerous.
The moment the bell rang, heels clacked over to his seat as the other students wandered off to their classes. Two other presences were felt behind the first one, both equally as dangerous. The first, however, was more...similar to himself.
That wasn't good. At all.
"Pardon me," a woman's voice rang out. "but you seem...distracted by something." A woman sat in front of him, ebony hair, fiery eyes, and a black and white uniform – Haven Academy, if his research was correct – was her attire. A male in the same uniform colors sat next to her; gray hair, dark eyes, and a cocky grin. Then, another woman sat next to John; green hair, red eyes, same uniform colors, and an innocent look on her face.
'Looks can be deceiving,' he reminded himself.
"It's...possible," he stated, keeping his reserved tones active. "What do you...want?"
"Nothing that you could give," she began. He felt the green-haired girl reach for his pockets; instead of slapping her away, he waited for the woman in front of her continue. "But what you can do, is more important." 'Bingo. Feign interest; there's nothing in those pockets anyways.' A tilt of his head was enough; the thief began searching.
"Oh? And...what can I do...for you?" he asked, leaning forward and placing his hands underneath his head. John noticed her eyes brighten slightly in surprise, and sadistic glee.
"Depending on your talents..." she paused for effect. "Anything possible. I'm looking for something of mine, and I'd like your assistance." The woman brushed her hand alongside one of his arms. On lesser men, it would be quite the tactic. John, however, wasn't an ordinary man, after all. The thieving hands became frantic in their search.
"After all," she purred. "wouldn't it be nice to be part of the new world order?" She narrowed her eyes, and a lustful smile grew on her face.
He leaned forward, surprising the woman slightly. His own twisted smile appeared, and startled her by grasping her hand. "Oh, I would like that," he growled. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not interested." He stood up immediately, releasing the woman's hand, and walked out of the cafeteria. A note was left in the thief's hand:
'Your next theft from me will be your last; be fortunate that it isn't the case this time. Otherwise, the results will be...quite violent.'
'Noted threats detected. Action: Research possible identity matches. Future Action: Eliminate threats.'
Urgh...that was a difficult chapter. My muse decided to finally show up before the release date, and before I have to start building a house.
Yup. That's a thing.
So! In the next few days, my writing schedule will be all dicked-up, so updating on the desired dates might be impossible if I'm unlucky: the possibility of releasing chapters a day late is quite high.
This will also affect my stream dates as well, unless I am able to convince my friends to allow me to stream as usual, with an earlier closing date as a compromise. If not, then you might not see me in a few weeks.
Until everything is good, I might not be active for a while, so I'll see you guys in a few weeks!